Page 33 of The Agent
“I’m Tully Gibson, here to see Matt Stevens,” he said to the receptionist seated at the oak desk just inside the front door.
“Do you have an appointment?” the youngish woman asked with a smile.
Tully winked at her. “I was hoping he might have a few minutes open.” Leland had hacked into Stevens’s computer, so Tully knew he had no scheduled appointments at this hour.
“Let me check.” The receptionist spoke on the office phone while Tully scanned the waiting area. Comfortable chairs around a glass-and-wood coffee table scattered with magazines. A wall of bookcases that held a coffee station, some framed photos and industry awards, and a few rows of matching books, probably obsolete insurance regulations. Nothing to indicate a man in financial trouble.
“Mr. Gibson? I’m Matt Stevens.”
Tully focused sharply on the man who walked into the room with his hand held out. He wanted to see what had led Natalie to marry him.
Stevens’s smile was practiced but not insincere, his teeth even and too white—probably bleached. He was medium height and fit. He wore gray trousers and a blue dress shirt with a purple-and-pink tie that was too garish for Tully’s tastes, but he figured the new girlfriend had picked it out. He wore his brown hair long enough to curl over his collar. His demeanor was that of a man who liked himself more than a little.
While Tully was sizing up Stevens, he knew the other man was doing the same to him, evaluating his expensive suit and custom-stitched boots.
Tully took the man’s hand in a strong grip, which Stevens returned. “Thanks for seeing me without an appointment.”
“Would you like some coffee?” Stevens asked, his smile still in place.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Please, come back to my office and tell me what I can do for you.” Stevens gestured toward the door he’d emerged from.
Tully preceded him through it, finding the decor much the same. His gaze caught on a large silver-framed photo of Stevens with his arm around a slim, young blonde woman with a big smile. Evidently, the man had a type, although his new girlfriend lacked Natalie’s air of elegant composure.
“Have a seat.” Stevens gestured toward the fake-leather-and-wood chair in front of his oak desk. He settled into a matching high-backed swivel chair behind it.
Tully waited until he was sure Stevens’s attention was on him before flicking his jacket button open so his holster would be visible as he sat. He caught the jitter in the other man’s eyes with satisfaction.
“I have a confession to make,” Tully said with a thin smile. “I’m not here to buy insurance.”
Stevens swallowed but folded his hands on his desktop. “Then whyareyou here?”
“Where were you yesterday between twelve and four p.m.?”
“If you’re with law enforcement, I’d like to see some kind of identification,” Stevens said.
Tully leaned forward and locked his gaze on the other man. “I’m conducting a private investigation because I think you would prefer not to have this made public.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” His anger was mixed with confusion that Tully judged to be genuine.
“Answer my question and I’ll tell you,” Tully said.
“Yesterday was Monday, so I was here at the office.”
“You didn’t go out for lunch?”
“No, I had it delivered.”
“Can your receptionist vouch for your presence here during that time period?”
“This is bullshit. You need to leave.” Stevens stood and reached for the phone.
Tully leaned back and let his jacket flap open even farther so the gun would be obvious. He’d brought his big Glock for intimidation purposes. He said in a flat voice, “Don’t.”
The other man sat down slowly. “Who are you?”
“Have you ever been in an internet café?” Tully shot at him.
